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Whoever wins out of Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey is in for a marathon if he’s to win the WGC Cadillac Matchy Play in San Francisco.
Bad light stopped play after 21 holes, and McIlroy and Casey return early Sunday morning local time to decide the outcome.
Then the winner meets Jim Furyk, and if successful against the 44-year-young American they will back up for another 18 holes on the same day in the final against either Danny Willett or Gary Woodland.
But the key will be how long the top of the draw quarter-final lasts, especially if it goes 27 to 30 holes, eating up time and energy.
John Senden three-putted the first hole in his quarter-final clash with Gary Woodland, but then failed to sink three birdie putts to be four-down in a five-hole hurry.
The best-performed Australian in the tournament never recovered from such a shattering start, and even though he competed for the rest of the journey, Woodland moved comfortably into the semis with a five and three win.
Yet again a major point emerged from this tournament, match play has no respect for world rankings.
Only two of the world’s top ten – Rory McIlroy (1), and Jim Furyk (5) – qualified for the round of 16 after three round robin rounds.
The world’s hottest golfers Jordan Spieth (2), Henrik Stenson (3), Bubba Watson (4), Justin Rose (6), defending champion Jason Day (7), Dustin Johnston (8), Adam Scott (9),and Sergio Garcia (10) were early casualties.
Yet Louis Oosthuizen (ranked 30), Casey (37), Willett (49), Woodland (52), Tommy Fleetwood (57), and Senden (65) reached the quarters.
Golf fans could be forgiven for not knowing the two Englishmen Willett and Fleetwood.
Willett is 27, a former English Amateur champion in 2007, and a member of the Walker Cup team in 2008.
He’s won two tournaments on the European Tour – the 2012 BMW Invitational in a play-off with Australian Marcus Fraser, and last year’s Nedbank Challenge by four shots over compatriot Ross Fisher.
Willett is second to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.
Fleetwood is 24, he too won the British Amateur in 2010, and was a member of the Walker Cup team. He won his first pro tournament – the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2013 – with a birdie on the first hole of a three-man play-off with Scot Stephen Gallacher, and Argentine Ricardo Gonzales.
The results of the WGC Cadillac Match Play round of 16
McIlroy went on a birdie-fest to easily beat Hideki Matsuyams (16) – 6 and 5.
Casey beat Charl Schwartzel (33) – 3 and 1.
Furyk beat JB Holmes (12) – 5 and 3.
Oosthuizen beat Ricky Fowler (13) 1- -up.
Woodland beat Australian Marc Leishman (60) – 2 and 1.
Senden beat Hunter Mahan (32) – 2 and 1
Fleetwood beat Branden Grace (39) – 2 and 1
And Willett beat Lee Westwood (27) – 3 and 2.
Quarter-final results in draw order
McIlroy and Casey all square after 21 holes
Furyk beat Oosthuizen 4 and 2
Woodland beat Senden 5 and 3
And Willett beat Fleetwood 4 and 3.
The semis and final will be decided early tomorrow morning.